VILLAGERS of Lutu in Naitasiri yesterday witnessed the commissioning of the first cocoa processing unit, consisting of a fermenter and a cocoa dryer, provided by the European Union-funded Increasing Agricultural Commodities Trade (IACT) project, implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC).
The processing unit is the first of the three that will be installed on Viti Levu.
EU Ambassador to Fiji and the Pacific, Andrew Jacobs said there was an increasing demand worldwide for and particularly in Europe for specialty chocolates distinguished by their pure ingredients and unique tastes.
“I am convinced that Fiji cocoa, grown and harvested naturally in the pristine environment of the South Pacific, has all the attributes to entice chocolate lovers around the world.
“This is a good example for rehabilitation in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston which also provides new opportunities,” he said.
Mr Jacobs said IACT was a regional program designed to help farmers with the view to export their products overseas.
He said last year they had about $4 million left in the IACT budget and they decided to use the funds to assist farmers who were affected by the cyclone.
He said through the program the EU had been able to assist fresh produce farmers, beekeepers and pearl farmers get back on their feet after the cyclone.
A statement from the EU said the IACT project had been supporting the recovery of the Fijian agricultural sector after the destruction caused by TC Winston.
The installation of three cocoa processing units throughout Fiji is an attempt to rehabilitate and invigorate the Fijian cocoa industry.
It said the project worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to locate key cocoa growing areas and to identify the best locations for the new processing units.
Meanwhile the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resource Department director Yan Helsen said one of the major issues affecting cocoa farmers was quality control.
Mr Helsen said members of the Wainaka Cocoa Growers Association in Lutu Village were trained on how to use the cocoa dryer and the processing unit.
He confirmed that a nursery would be set up with 50,000 cocoa plants which would then be distributed to cocoa farmers. The location of the nursery is however still to be confirmed.
